In this unit you will be concentrating on reading and writing skills. The tasks in the reading section will extend your knowledge of the writer’s skill and craft through examination of the writer’s use of language and development of plot, character and setting.
The Victorian project should encourage you to read for information and use a variety of other sources to find out about life in Victorian times.
You will also be asked to do an extended piece of writing which will allow you to develop your own writing skills using the books you read as models.
Dear Sirs
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

You are going to gather as much information as possible on the Victorian era. At the end of the period specified by your teacher, you will submit a detailed project on one or more aspects of Victorian Britain. You will carry this research out by yourself using all the sources that are available to you; for example, the library, the internet, video material etc.
The Victorian Age refers to the time when Queen Victoria was on the throne: 1850-1901.
You will present your work in the form of a booklet and the topics below may help you to choose what aspect of Victoria life you will look at. You may choose a topic that is not on this list but check your topic with your teacher first.
Suggested Topics
Writers of the Victorian age
Art and Artists in Victorian Britain
Children in Victorian Britain
Education in Victorian Britain
Living in Victorian Times: the poor
Living in Victorian Times: the wealthy
Victorian Inventors and their Inventions
Crime and Criminals in Victorian Britain
Beliefs and Customs of the Victorians
Home Life of the Victorians
Work in Victorian Times
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

RESEARCH
You will have to research thoroughly, making notes as you go. You must remember to note the sources that you use as you will be expected to write a bibliography at the end of the project.
When making notes, you need only note important points. Do not rewrite ‘chunks’ of text.
ORGANISE
Think about how you are going to organise your material to create maximum impact. You might like to think of this kind of layout.
1. Title page
On this page you should write the title of the project and provide a suitable illustration to accompany it.
2. Contents
On this page list all the pages you have included in the project.
For example:
Contents
3
4
5
6
Page
1
2
Heading
Introduction
Section 1 (Heading)
Section 2 “
Section 3 “
Conclusion
Bibliography
3. Introduction
On this page you will provide the reader with an interesting summary of what you intend to explore in your project. Say why you chose this topic and how you are going to inform your readers.
4. Sections 1 – 3
On these pages what you present and how you present it will depend on the topic you have chose but you should try to cover three aspects of your chosen topic; for example, three writers or three aspects of childhood or home life.
Write in detail, using you own words.
Present your work as attractively as possible using illustrations where appropriate.
5. Conclusion
On this page sum up the main points you have made and add any personal comment on what you have found out.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

6. Bibliography
List the books, articles and other sources you have used to find your information under these headings.
Author Title of Text Publisher and Date
GOOD LUCK!
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

CHAPTER ONE
The opening chapters of a novel are crucial. The writer must establish the setting, the main characters and the plot. He or she must stimulate the reader’s interest, making us want to read on.
When you have read chapter one, answer the following questions in as much detail as you can.
CHARACTER
Smith
What do we learn about Smith from this chapter?
Think about both his physical characteristics and his personality. Where appropriate, quote from the passage to back up your answer.
In what ways is Smith talented?
Why are these talents of little use to him at the end of the chapter?
What is your first impression of Smith?
The Old Man
In your own words, what aspects of the old man’s behaviour show his unfamiliarity with the
Town?
PLOT
In your own words, describe the incident which resulted in the death of the old man.
How has the author managed to capture the reader’s interest in this first chapter?
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

LANGUAGE
Garfield uses language very carefully to convey the scenes he is describing to the reader.
Look at the following examples and think about how he creates his effects.
“coaches, chairs and curricles”
“shouting and cursing and scraping and raging”
“Pick-pocket! Pick-pocket! Jug him! Jug – jug – jug – him!”
Why do you think Garfield uses these lists and repetition when describing the sounds and sights of the city?
From your reading of the passage, what do you think “Jug him” means?
“A dingy fellow creaked out of a doorway, like he was hinged on it.” (p9)
What figure of speech is this? Why is it effective? (i.e. What picture does it create in your mind and why is this appropriate?)
“Deeper and deeper into the musty tottering forest of the town where Smith hunted fastest and best”. (p9)
What figure of speech is being used here?
What two things are being compared?
Why are these comparisons effective in creating a mental picture for the reader?
“Then he was through like a needle through shoddy”. (p13)
What does this tell us about the speed that Smith moved at?
VOCABULARY
What do the following words mean? Look at the context they are used in and see if you can guess their meaning, then check your answers with the dictionary definition.
Subtle (p7)
Dexterously (p7)
Sanctimonious (p7)
Blasphemous (p7)
Sallow (p8)
Sardonic (p13)
CHARACTER AND SETTING
Smith is described as “rather a sooty spirit of the violent and ramshackle Town”.
Look carefully at the description of the setting in the first chapter. Skim and scan for references to Smith’s surrounding. Make brief notes. Now look at the information you have collected about Smith. How do the character and the environment compliment each other?
What similarities do they share?
Quote from the text to support your answer.
Why is the relationship between Smith and the environment important to our understanding of the character?
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

GARFIELD AND VICTORIAN LITERATURE
“Smith was first published in 1967. Although it is therefore a relatively modern book, Garfield writes in the style of the Victorian novel. Does this opening chapter remind you of another famous story? Which particular character could you compare with Smith?
Look at the following extract. You might see some similarities between Smith and this character from “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. “Oliver Twist” was first published in 1837 and was Dickens’ second novel.
In this scene from the novel, Oliver has run away from his cruel employer, Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker, and is wandering alone in London. He is approached in the street by another boy who he has noticed watching him.
Oliver raised his head and returned his steady look. Upon this, the boy crossed over; and walking close up to Oliver, said, ‘Hullo, my covey! What’s the row?’
The boy who addressed this inquiry to the young wayfarer, was about his own age, but one of the queerest-looking boys that Oliver had ever seen. He was a snub-nosed, flat-browed, common faced boy enough; and as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see; but he had about him all the airs and manners of a man. He was short of his age, with rather bow-legs, and little, sharp, ugly eyes. His hat was stuck on the top of his head so lightly, that it threatened to fall off every moment
– and would have done so, very often if the wearer had not had a knack of every now and then giving his head a sudden twitch, which brought it back to its old place again. He wore a man’s coat, which reached nearly to his heels. He had turned the cuffs back, halfway up his arm, to get his hands out of the sleeves: apparently with the ultimate view of thrusting them into the pockets of his corduroy trousers; for there he kept them. He was altogether, as roystering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less, in his bluchers*.
*bluchers – strong leather half boots or high shoes.
This strange looking boy is the Artful Dodger who, like Smith, earns his living by picking pockets.
Now look at the following extracts from “Smith” and “Oliver Twist”. The extracts both deal with setting.
PASSAGE 1
… Smith was rather a sooty spirit of the violent and ramshackle Town, and inhabited the tumbledown mazes about fat St. Paul’s like the subtle air itself……….
His favourite spot was Ludgate Hill, where the world’s coaches, chairs and curricles were met and locked, from morning to night in a horrible blasphemous confusion……..
This was the deepest heart of Smith’s forest, hidden even from the cathedral birds. Here the houses reared and clustered as if to shut out the sky, and so promoted the growth of the flat, pale and unhealthy moon faces of the clerks and scriveners, glimpsed in their dark caves through dusty window, silent and intent……
Framed by the darkness of its alley Curtis Court presented a grey and peaceful brightness – a neglected clearing in the forest of the Town, where nothing grew, and all save on of the enclosed houses had had their eyes put out with bricks (on account of the tax).
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

PASSAGE 2
They walked on for sometime through the most crowded and densely inhabited part of the town; and then, striking down a narrow street more dirty and miserable than any they had passed through, paused to look for the house which was the object of their search. The houses on either side were high and large but very old, and tenanted by people of the poorest class….. A great many of the tenements had shop-fronts; but they were fast closed, and mouldering away; only the upper rooms being inhabited. Some houses which had become insecure from age and decay, were prevented from falling into the street, by huge beams of wood reared against the walls, and firmly planted in the road; but even these crazy dens seemed to have been selected as the nightly haunts of some houseless wretches, for many of the rough boards which supplied the place of door and window, were wrenched from their positions, to afford an aperture wide enough for the passage of a human body.
The kennel* was stagnant and filthy. The very rats, which here and there lay putrefying in its rottenness, were hideous with famine.
*kennel - gutter
Extract from “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens
1. What similarities do you see in the two extracts above?
2. What differences are there between the two passages?
3. Pick out and write down the most striking piece of description from either of the above extracts.
4. Why did you find this piece of description so effective?
5. What do you think Dickens’ purpose might have been in including this kind of material in his novels?
CHAPTERS 2 – 3
Chapter 2
Think carefully about what you have learned about the language Garfield uses in “Smith” when he is describing people and places.
In detail, descri be what you imagine the interior of Smith’s home to be like. Your description should make use of adjectives, similes and metaphors and should closely follow the style of writing used by Garfield. Imagine that it is to be added in to the chapter and the reader must not know that it was not Garfield that wrote it!
HELP
If you need help, think about the following:
 What kind of furnishings would there be?
 Remember that the two sisters make clothes. What kind of things would be lying


 about?
What kind of pictures might there be on the walls?
Might they have ornaments? What would they be like?
Think about the character of the sisters. Would the cellar be clean and tidy or would it

 be dirty or untidy?
What kind of lighting would there be?
What colours and shades would predominate?
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

1. Where is Smith’s place of daily business? What does he do to earn money?
2. Who does Smith ask to teach him to read? Why do none of these people help him?
3. How does the writer make the incident in the book shop appear amusing?
Here you must think about how humour is created.
If you need help, think about the following points:
How does Garfield set the scene for disaster by his description of the way the books are arranged? (p25)
What aspects of the booksellers behaviour add to the build up of tension in this scene?
(p25/26)
How does Smith’s response to this create a funny picture in our head? (p26)
How does Garfield use the description of the books at the bottom of p26 add to the humour of the situation?
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

SMITH BY LEON GARFIELD
Chapter Four
This novel was written in 1967, yet is written in the style of a Victorian writer. You are going to look more closely at the language of the novel to see how Leon Garfield has created this style.
1. Look at the opening paragraph of Chapter 4. List any words, phrases or uses of punctuation which suggest an old-fashioned style of writing.
2. Now do the same for the whole of page 28.
3. Pick out two examples of slang or colloquial English from the same page. Which accent do you imagine these people have? Would they still speak this way today?
4. Make a list of words from page 29 to the end of the chapter of words you no not know the meaning of. Check the dictionary for definitions and write them down. State beside each word whether you think it is archaic (from an older time) or still in current usage.
5. Can you find any examples of slip-ups in this chapter where you think Leon Garfield has used words or sentence constructions which seem too modern?
READING PASSAGE
Chapter Five (Pages 33-36)
Section One
1. In what way are the two men camouflaged? (2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. From your reading of this passage and your knowledge of the book, what two advantages does Smith have in trying to escape the men? (2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. What impression of the court is given by the use of the phrase “shadowy confines” in
(2) paragraph 2?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

4. What two phrases in paragraph two indi cate Smith’s fear?
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
5. With reference to paragraph three, what time of year is it and how can you tell?
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. The two men’s feet were “kissing the cobbles with urgent passion”. What does this tell
(2) us about their pursuit of Smith?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7. What figure of speech is “intricate necklace of flight” and why is it appropriate? (2)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
8. Write down the simile in the last paragraph of this section. In your own words, describe
(2) what the men are hoping will happen.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Section Two
9. What age do you think the men pursuing Smith are? In your own words, explain why you
(3) think this.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

10. Underline the meaning of the following words:
Felonious Wicked or criminal
Doomed
Companion or associate
Abutment Junction
Prop
Station
(3)
Meagre Solemn
Repulsive
Lean
11. In your own words, what physical state is Smith in at the end of this chase?
What is his mood? (3)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
12. How does he come by the handkerchief with which he conceals the document at the
(1) end of this section?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
MORE ABOUT CHARACTERS
Chapters 4 – 10
In these chapters we meet more important characters. The main character in this novel is
Smith himself, but other characters also affect the plot and what happens to Smith. Leon
Garfield describes many of the characters in the novel in great detail so that the reader had a mental picture of these people and an idea of what they are like.
The writer creates character by telling us what characters say and do; what they look like; what they wear; what other people think and say about them; what their facial expressions are and how they walk and talk. A character may have some significant distinguishing feat ure, for example, Mr Mansfield’s blindness, which affects his judgement of other people.
Through his character we question our own methods of judging others.
LORD TOM
Garfield presents a vivid picture of this character in Chapter four.
When you have finished reading this chapter, make notes on your impressions of Lord Tom.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Think about: his looks, his personality, how he behaves towards Smith, how he behaves towards Smith’s sisters and how they behave towards him. Does he fit your picture of a highwayman? Give reasons for your answer.
Task
From evidence of the text, draw a ‘Wanted’ poster of Lord Tom. As well as the picture, what kind of information might be carried on a poster? Make notes in your jotter before transferring this on to A3 paper.
CHARACTER SKETCH
Now you are going to look at the character of Miss Mansfield.
You are going to write a character sketch of Miss Mansfield.
First you will have to make notes about the character. Answering these questions will help you to collect your information.
1. How does Smith come to meet Miss Mansfield?
2. Read page 44 and 45. What do we learn about Miss Mansfield’s looks and personality from these two pages? How does she walk and talk? What does the writer point out as being odd about Miss Mansfield’s facial expression and in her tone of voice? Why is this?
3. How does Miss Mansfield behave towards Smith?
4. In chapter seven following Smith’s discovery that the document is gone, why is Miss
Mansfield so concerned about him? (pages 55/56)
5. Why does she give Smith a second chance at the end of this chapter? (Pages 59/60)
6. In chapter eight, how does Miss Mansfield become important to Smith?
7. Read pages 63-66. How do we see the relationship changing between Miss Mansfield and Smith? How does this come about?
8. Read pages 70 – 72. How does Miss Mansfield finally let Smith down?
9. What do you think is Miss Mansfield’s overall importance to the story so far?
10. What do you think of her personally as a character?
Now, using your notes, write a character sketch of Miss Mansfield giving your personal opinion of the character. Your character sketch should be as detailed as possible, showing both the positive and negative aspects of the character and using quotation from the text to support what you say.
Write in continuous prose using sentences and paragraphs.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

SMITH
TWISTS! BETRAYALS! REVELATIONS!
When Smith is sent to Newgate jail the pace of the novel picks up with many twists and surprises.
Chapters 10 – 14
TWISTS!
Make a list of all the people who visit Smith in Newgate jail – why do each of these people visit Smith and what effect do their visits have on him?
Chapters 14 – 16
BETRAYALS!
The action in a novel can be affected by the behaviour of the characters and the relationships between characters.
Each of these people betrays Tom in the course of the novel:
Miss Mansfield
Mr Mansfield
Mr Billing
Lord Tom
Choose one of these people and explain what effect their betrayal of Smith has on the action of the novel.
Chapters 16 – 20
REVELATIONS!
In the final chapters of the novel Smith and the reader find out things they did not know before.
The novel reaches its most exciting point ( the climax ) and the plot is finally unravelled
( denouement ).
THE CLIMAX!
What do you consider to be the most exciting moment in the action of the last few characters?
Describe what happens at this moment and say why you consider it to be the climax of the novel.
THE DENOUEMENT
How does Garfield surprise the reader with the final revelations in this chapter? Explain what these revelations are and give your personal response to them – would you have guessed the identity of Mr Black or Mr Billing’s involvement with him?
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

JUSTICE!
Do you think the characters in the novel get their just desserts? Consider what happens to Mr
Billing, Mr Black and Lord Tom. Think about each of these characters in turn. Do you think they deserve what happened to them? Give reasons for your answer.
Now think about the other characters in the novel:
Smith
Mr Mansfield
Miss Mansfield
Fanny and Bridget
What have each of these characters learned and gained from their experiences?
THE DOCUMENT
Trace the journey of the document through the novel. Think about who has it and who wants it at various points.
What is the function of the document in maintaining excitement in the novel?
How does Garfield create an anti climax when Smith finally reads the document?
*Look up anti climax in the dictionary.
THEMES
The novel explores several themes, some of which are:
Crime
Greed
Hypocrisy
Justice
The deceptiveness of appearances
Conditions in Victorian England
Which of these themes do you consider to be the most important and why?
FINAL PERSONAL RESPONSE
Now that you have finished reading the novel, what did you think of it?
What was the best bit? Who was your favourite character? Were you happy with the ending?
This is your chance to say what you think.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE THE PLAN OVERLEAF TO HELP YOU ORGANISE YOUR
RESPONSE
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

HELP!
INTRODUCTION – Be Brief – you will go into more detail later.
Say what the name of the novel is and give the name of the writer.
Write about where and when the novel was set .
Explain who the main character is and give one or two important details.
In one or two sentences , say what the plot of the novel is.
STYLE
Explain why Garfield’s style of writing is important to the novel.
Pick out a piece of description and say why you think it creates a good atmosphere.
CHARACTERS
Explain who the main characters are.
Say which character was your favourite and explain why you liked them.
If there was a character you disliked, why?
FAVOURITE PART OF THE NOVEL
Write about your favourite part of the novel.
Say whether it was funny or sad or exciting.
Explain why you enjoyed this part.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE NOVEL
Explain what the novel taught about Victorian England and think about what you learned from the characters and themes.
THE ENDING
Say what you thought of the end of the novel.
Give a reason for your opinion.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

SMITH
Writing Tasks
Choose ONE of the following tasks as your writing assignment.
PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Remember the embarrassing situation Smith found himself in, in Chapter 3 of the novel?
We looked closely at how the writer created humour in this situation.
Think about an incident in your life when you were in a funny or embarrassing situation.
Write about what happened.
Try to write in such a way that the reader can see the humour in what happened.
Like Garfield, start by setting the scene and establishing the characters. Try to make your observations as detailed as possible as this helps to create the atmosphere and allows the reader to picture clearly what is going on.
Build up the circumstances around the event slowly and with detail. What was said or done.
Describe what happened – the climax.
How was the situation resolved? How did you feel at the time? How do you feel about this now?
IMAGINATIVE WRITING
In chapter 13 Smith becomes trapped while trying to escape from the jail.
Write a story called “Trapped”.
Use the following notes to help you.
Plot
How does the character come to be trapped? Briefly outline how this situation comes about.
Setting
Where is this person trapped? Describe the setting in great detail. Garfield gives a very detailed description to build up atmosphere. By using a lot of description the reader creates a good mental picture of what is going on. The writer conveys exactly the atmosphere he wishes to convey by careful word choice.
Plot
Build up tension. Remember Smith’s long journey through the air vents? The writer built up tension by emphasising the silence and slowness of Smith’s journey. The excitement that developed when Smith came out the other end was in contrast to this and more shocking for the reader because of the change of pace.
Twists
Events we could never have foreseen keep us interested. How can you surprise your reader?
What happens in the end?
How does the situation resolve itself?
Character
There must only be one character trapped in this story. Concentrate on how the character feels and what thoughts go through their head in this situation.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

WRITE AN OPENING CHAPTER
Reread Chapter One of “Smith”. Think about what we said earlier about the importance of an opening chapter.
Your task is to write an opening chapter to a novel in which you try to create a similarly creepy atmosphere. Think about how Garfield uses simile, personification and metaphor to good effect. Bear in mind that the main point of this piece of writing is to create an atmosphere and set the scene for what is to come.
Ideas if you are stuck
Start with something surprising, like a scream or a loud noise, if you can’t think of an opening.
Then imagine who your main character is going to be, and describe his or her reaction to it.
Encourage your reader to identify with your character in some way by giving clues about the character’s personality and background; but don’t try to explain everything.
End your chapter with a ‘cliff-hanger’.
PERSONAL NARRATIVE
My Dearest Dream
In Chapter Four we learn that “ riding out with the highwayman had always been one of Smith’s dearest dreams”.
What is your dearest dream?
Write about your greatest ambition or dream. Imagine that you are in a situation where your dearest dream is realised and write in detail about what happens and what your thoughts and feelings are on achieving this dream.
OR
You may have achieved your dearest dream already. Write about an incident in your life that you consider to be very special to you, when you achieved an ambition or dream. Write in detail about what happened, what your thoughts and feelings were at the time and how you feel about this now.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

TRANSACTIONAL WRITING
Newspaper Article
Chapter One
Imag ine the old man’s murder is reported in the newspaper the following day. This article would be the headline news in a broadsheet. Write the article and design the front page of the newspaper. Include any other short items or advertisements which might also appear on that day. (Remember they must be consistent with the Victorian theme).
Use the notes overleaf to help you.
You will find it useful to read newspapers and discuss the style of newspaper writing with your teacher.
Remember that good newspaper writing should be factual and you must be careful not to bias the reader by giving your own opinion.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

ASSIGNMENT 2 SHAPING NEWS STORIES
AIM

To study how news stories are structured and to practice the skill of structuring a news story.
Newspaper stories are written to a set formula. They contain information that answers the questions: Who? What? Why? Where? When? How? The story has been analysed for you.
A NUCLEAR cloud with nine times the normal amount of radiation has swept
Manchester and
Southport, Lancashire, recorded the high readings and over the North West.
The cloud covered
Greater Manchester,
Lancashire, York- environmental groups took samples from air conditioning units the next day to identify the cloud’s origins. shire and parts of
Merseyside a fort- night ago.
Last night the Enviro-
William Peden of the
Nuclear Transport
Information Group said: “This was not a nment Department denied there had been a cloud or any rise in radiation. natural phenomenon.
There was probably
But monitors at sites near Wigan, Greater
What is the story about? Radiation an accident on a nuclear submarine in the Irish Sea”.
Today 9.11.88
Where did it happen?
Why did it happen?
In the north-west of England
It was probably caused by an accident on a nuclear submarine in the Irish Sea
Who found out about it?
How did they find out?
When did it happen ?
Environmental groups
They took samples from air conditioning units
‘A fortnight ago’
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

AIM

To practice making decisions about what is important in a news story.
When a reporter writes a news story he or she has to decide which facts are important and which are not. The final story is written with the most important facts first and the least important last. This is so that the story can be cut from the bottom upwards without losing vital information. Stories have to be cut sometimes because there is not enough room for them in the paper. This structure is sometimes called ‘the inverted pyramid’.
Remember that the first paragraph should contain all the essential information, you may then go on to develop each aspect of the story.
Where – you may develop this by describing the area the murder took place in.
When – you might go on to discuss the fact that this murder was committed in the middle of the morning.
Why – the reporter might suggest some possible reason for the old man’s murder.
Remember to make it clear that these are just possibilities and not facts.
How – you may give a detailed description of the wound and the injuries done to the old man.
Who – we later find out that the murdered man is a Mr Field of Prickler’s Hill in Hertfordshire.
You may use this information if you wish.
You may also want to include some comment from the person who found the body or from the police.
AIM

To practice writing headlines in different styles.
Newspapers use headlines because of the way that papers are read by the public. Most people do not spend a long time reading a paper. About twenty minutes is the average reading time. Readers need to be able to select quickly the bits that are of interest to them.
Headlines label stories to that people can tell quickly if they want to read a particular story.
How to write a good headline
1. Emphasise the main point of a story
2. Use as few words as possible
3. Use a particular style (see next page)
There are several different styles of newspaper headline.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

ALLITERATION
EXCLAMATIONS
HEADLINES BALANCED AROUND A PREPOSITION
PUNS
INFORMATIVE
SENSATIONAL
COLLOQUIAL
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

The Fiend Next Door By Sheila Lavelle
This is a very good book. The bit I liked best was when Charlie played a very nasty trick on her best friend Angela. I liked all of this book.
Elephants Don’t Sit On Cars By David Henry Wilson
The thing I liked about the book was when Jeremy James’ mum had two babies. She had a boy and a girl. Their names were Christopher and Jennifer. One strange thing in the book was that Jeremy James got a visit from his Uncle Arthur but he didn’t even know he had an
Uncle Arthur!
Miss Willow Goes To The Zoo By Paul Groves
Miss Willow is a funny character. The book is very funny. The best bit was when she put the headmaster’s coat and hat on!
The Worst Witch By Jill Murphy
The worst witch is a series of books by Jill Murphy. They are all good but this one is my favourite.
My Rat Is a Cowboy By Frank Rodgers
I really liked reading this book. It was funny at times and very interesting. I am looking forward to reading the other ‘My Rat is ….’ Books. I think this is a great book for all ages.
Clever Cakes and Other Stories By Michael Rosen
I liked the story about Clever Cakes because it was exciting.
Dracula’s Castle By Robert Swindells
Every day Sam and Laura passed Dracula’s Castle. One day they saw Marvin going in.
Marvin didn’t come to school. Everyone said he was sick but Sam and Laura Knew that he was in Dracu la’s Castle ……..
Hello Mr Twiddle By Enid Blyton
I would like to be Mrs Twiddle in this book because she is funny, kind and likes cooking and gardening. She tells Mr Twiddle what to do all the time because he is useless at everything!
Asterix
Asterix is my favourite character. I like him because he is funny and he uses interesting words.
This reader also liked:
Trick or Treat by Caroline Ewan
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Eyes of the Alien By Peter Johnston
I enjoyed this book because it was very exciting and adventurous. It was about a girl who was an alien, but she didn’t know that at first. She has a friend who was a boy but he was not an alien. They saw a very large UFO in the sky one night but they both ran back home.
She was then visited by an alien, which is when she discovered that she too was an alien.
She boarded the UFO but changed her mind about being taken back to her own planet because she wanted to stay with her friends.
Football Stories That Really Happened By Alan MacDonald
I am writing about this book because it is one of the best books I have ever read. It is also good to read because it teaches you to be better at football. I hope more people read it because Allan MacDonald has made a very good job of it. It has six very true stories about football and one of them is about a footballer who scores at the last minute. He won the FA
Cup for his team Blackpool against Bolton at Wembley Stadium in London in 1953. The man’s name was Stanley Matthews.
Football Mad 2 Offside By Paul Stewart
This follow up to the football adventures of Craig, Gary and Danny is a quick read. It is full of adventure and mystery which will make you keep reading till the end.
St Botolph’s Primary School is through to the final of the Mereside Borough Junior Cup. The only problem is Craig Taggart is on the bench. New boy Leigh Parker has replaced him on the midfield. Craig is disappointed enough, but on his birthday he finds something out, something disturbing. Could it be the Mereside Borough Junior Cup Final is fixed!
I recommend this book to people who like a short read which is full of adventure and excitement.
The Battle of Bubble and Squeak By Phillipa Pearce
I liked this book. In the story there are six important characters. Bubble and Squeak are the main characters. The story is about Sid who wanted a gerbil or a rat but his mum hated them. One night Sid finds two frozen gerbils outside and brings them in to keep them warm ……..
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Paul Jennings is a favourite with all ages and levels and The Gizzmo is one of his best books. There are many Paul Jennings titles in the library.
Gizzmo By Paul Jennings
I really like this book and I also enjoyed Unreal. The Gizzmo is the best of the two. They are not long stories but they are just long enough. The Gizzmo is excellent.
This reader also enjoyed:
Hot dog by Trevor Millum
And
The Bully by Anthony Masters
The Bully is a very good story. It had lots of pictures in it and lots of different characters.
My Rat is a Teacher By Frank Rodgers
I really like Frank Rodgers’ books. I think they are great sellers because they are imaginative and funny. Ratso looks so ordinary but he is not. He would love to be a teacher and it is funny the way he gets to go to school.
This reader also enjoyed:
A Pig Called Henry by Karen Wallace
And
Roller Coaster by Sanford S Heldon R Levinson and W Link
Sheepdog in the Snow By Lucy Daniels
Sheepdog in the Snow is about Mandy and James who find a starving sheepdog called Tess and set out to save her life.
Jess The Border Collie By Lucy Daniels
I really enjoyed reading this book. The best part was when Jenny went into the stables to save the horse and Jess helps her out. I look forward to reading more of these books. The book was sad and happy.
Spiders By Julie Taylor
Sandra had just received a cheque from her uncle’s will. She and her husband buy Parkhill, an old house. They are very happy until the spiders come ………
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Tilly Beany Saves The World By Anne Dalton
A hole in the ozone layer! Dolphins in tuna nets! Help! If only Tilly could find the cure ……
My Rat is a Cowboy By Frank Rodgers
I really liked reading your book My Rat is a Cowboy. It was funny at times and very interesting. It was good how you made the rat seem like he was a cowboy. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.
This reader also enjoyed:
Dinner Ladies Don’t Count by Bernard Ashley
And
The Worst Witch Strikes Again by Jill Murphy
Read the Book and Answer the Questions
Who is the chanting mistress?
Who was singing out of tune?
What animal was on the roof of the school?
Who is the headmistress of Cackle Academy?
Who is the worst witch?
What colour is the summer uniform?
What is the new girl called?
At sport’s day, what was the first event?
What kind of pet do the girls get to look after?
Was Mildred’s cat called – Sabby or Tabby?
Pongwiffy And the Pantomime By Kaye Umansky
I really enjoyed the book ‘Pongwiffy and the Pantomime’. I love how the writer comes up with all the different spells for each of the characters. My favourite bit was when it started to rain bobbles. I thought that was funny. I also like the bit where they got stuck up a gum tree. My favourite character is Hugo because I love the way he speaks. It was a very enjoyable and funny book to read.
War Games By Steve Hase
I thought this book was really enjoyable. I like how the author planned the soldiers escape from the Germans.
Read the Book and Answer the Questions
How did the Germans capture the British soldiers?
How did the Germans treat them?
What did the British soldiers do to escape?
How did they finally beat the Germans?
This reader also enjoyed:
Gulf by Robert Westall
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Time Rangers by Rob Childs
And
Glasgow Rangers by Peter McCath
Kick Off By Robert Douglas
I thought Kick Off was great. My favourite scene was when Chris Pritchard took the penalty in the final of the Irn Bru cup.
Ocean Times By Anthony Masters
Tony Bullimore goes on an adventure in his yacht but suddenly the boat capsizes and the cabin fills with water …… Read this dramatic and true life story.
This reader also enjoyed:
Hero by Anthony Masters
Reggie the Stuntman by Kate Shannon
And
True Detective Stories by Terry Deary
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Books by Jacqueline Wilson
JACQUELINE WILSON remains popular with girls at all levels. Here are some titles of books that have been enjoyed by readers recently:
Girls in Love
I would give this book 10/10. It was great. My favourite character was Dopey Dan. He was so funny. I also like Ellie. I found this book very funny. I also enjoyed How to Survive
Summer Camp and Girls Under Pressure.
The Lottie Project
Read the Book then Answer the Questions
Who is the class swot?
Who is the main character?
What must you never call the main character?
Who does the main character really hate?
Who are her best friends?
What is the Lottie Project?
Who wins the school project?
Girls Under Pressure
Read the Book then Answer the Questions
What are the names of Ellie’s two friends?
What did Ellie make for her friends at Christmas?
What is Ellie’s stepmum called?
What is Ellie’s brother called?
Where does Ellie always go on holiday?
Who did she meet there?
What is Ellie’s nickname?
Other recommended titles by Jacqueline Wilson
The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Suitcase Kid (*Award Winner)
Double Act (*Award Winner)
Bad Girls
Glubbslyme
The Bed and Breakfast Star
The Mum Minder
Cliffhanger
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

The Lie By Peter Leigh
I thought ‘The Lie’ was a very good book. The best bit was when Luke messed up the drawing in Mr Jones’ classroom. I thought it was quite funny. I couldn’t believe that Mr
Jones hit Luke then lied to the head and to the poli ce. I enjoyed the chapter ‘Revenge’ especially. Luke really was the class pest. He never did his work, he broke the computer and spilt ink over Laura’s drawing.
The Enchanted Horse By Magdalen Nabb
I thought this book was really good. I like the way Irina thinks what happens is a dream but it is not. Bella sounds like a real horse as she is described in great detail. The book has a satisfying ending for Irina.
The Pirates Mixed Up Voyage By Margaret Mahy
I chose this book because the cover looked exciting and the blurb on the back of the book sounded interesting. I expected this book to be about pirates and to be funny and comical.
This book is about four people who decide to go on a voyage to island Six Hundred and
Sixty Six. They want to find Harry CashCash’s house and steal a crystal door knob. They have many adventures on the way.
Goosebumps – Cry of the Cat By RL Stine
I really like reading Goosebumps books. I like it when the cat comes back to life. The cat comes back to turn the pe rson who killed her into a cat. The cat’s name is R.I.P!
Sabrina By Mel Odom
Sabrina is in big trouble! Circe the Enchantress spoils her party so Sabrina ruins Circe’s night as well. No big deal right? Wrong! Circe is furious! However Sabrina tried to stop her she is determined to get her REVENGE!
Sabrina the Teenage Witch – Switcheroo By Margot Batrae
Read the Book and Answer the Questions
Who is Sabrina’s worst enemy?
Who are Sabrina’s best friends?
Where does Sabrina go to school?
What is t he name of Sabrina’s talking cat?
Who are Libby’s best friends?
What is the name of Sabrina’s brainy aunt?
Sabrina is half mortal half ___________?
What does Libby like doing best?
These readers also enjoyed the Sleepover Club books by Louise Catt
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Tremors by Tessa Potter
The Ghost of Golfhawk School
Martin and Dan love frightening the younger children at the school with scary ghost stories.
Then Kirsty claims that she can actually see ghosts. She sees them in so many places that people become petrified.
Tremors are spine chilling and guaranteed to scare even the bravest reader!
We Won the Lottery By Julie Taylor
The JacksonJones family have won the lottery! They don’t know what to do. Will they get what they want in the end?
This is a very funny book and after you have read it, you may not want to win the lottery at all!
Grizzly Tales of Gruesome Kids by Jamie Rix
The story I liked best was ‘The Barber of Civil’. It was a story about a barber who cut children’s tongues out. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out what happened!
Brave Warrior by Jean Ure
The book is about two girls called Clara and Jilly. They are best friends and live next door to each other and are both eleven. They are both dedicated to looking after animals. One day when they go horse riding they find out that a horse called Brave Warrior is going to be sent to the knackers yard. Since they love animals they want to save Brave Warrior. I would recommend this book. I have read it a few times.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Kensuke’s Kingdom By Michael Morpurgo
A book with adventure and mystery all mixed into one. It is also excitement and relationships so that you feel the characters are alive.
Michael, a boy of about eleven years old, decides to sail around the world with his parents.
One day near the Coral Sea he falls overboard and nobody hears him except his dog, Stella
Artois, who is also in the water. In the morning he finds himself on an island. Someone put out fresh water a nd food and he wonders who could have left it for him. He can’t be alone anymore. There must be someone else. Will he discover this mysterious person?
I recommend this book to people who like voyages of discovery, hardships and tales of happiness and emotions.
Goodnight Mr Tom By Michelle Magorian
This breathtaking book is about a boy called Willie Beach who is evacuated from London to the country at the time of the Second World War. He stays with an old man called Tom
Oakley.
Willie virtually starts a new life when he evacuates from the hustle and bustle of busy
London to the quiet peaceful countryside. He meets lots of new friends, George, Zacharias and John, George’s twin. All through the story you can feel the strong relationship between
Willie, Tom and Sammy the dog.
Everyone does everything to help Willie when he comes. Mrs Fletcher always knits jerseys and vests for him and Mrs Barnsley, the baker’s wife always shows a love for Willie and bakes lots of food for Tom and Willie.
I would recommend this book for those of you who like the Second World War and a complicated read.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Evolve or Die By Phil Gates
This is one of the Horrible Science series and they are all good but this one had lots of good stories and cartoons and I learned a lot about where life came from and how scientists think dinosaurs were wiped out. It has lots of funny cartoon, quizzes and things to do.
This reader also enjoyed:
Horrible Science: Vicious Veg by Nick Arnold

Ask the librarian for other titles in the
‘Horrible…….’ Series
Puppy Fat by Morris Gleitzman
This is a cook book about a boy who thinks his divorced parents may die of loneliness if they don’t find a new partner soon. Both parents have let themselves go and they don’t care.
And
Mossflower: a Tale of Redwall by Brian Jaques
This is part of the Redwall series of books. I really like them and I have just finished another one called Mattiemeo. This is the third in the series. I really want to read Martin the Warrior and would love to have the whole set.
The Tiger in the Well by Phillip Pullman
In this book the main character is Sally Lockhart. She is described as ‘uncommonly pretty’ and she has a daughter, aged two, called Harriet. She has very strong character and her life has been full of challenges and problems. In this book she finds she is about to face another one………
Outcast By Rosemary Sutcliff
This book is set in Roman Britain. It is about a young boy who is the survivor of a shipwreck.
He starts a new life in a village called Druid. The people there throw him out because they say he is unlucky. He has to fight the enemies that stand in his path but he learns how to survive in this harsh environment. I enjoyed the book but it must have been terrible living in that period of time.
Some You Win By Alan Gibbons
I really enjoyed this book because it was so realistic. Some books about football are like fairy tales when the team wins every match. In this book the team often suffered defeat and disappointment. My favourite character was Kev because he was a bad boy made good.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

The reader also enjoyed:
They Came from The Sea by David Orme
A problem at a power plant allows radioactive waste into the sea. The sea life mutates and monsters are created!
Here We Go By Dianne Redmond
Football Stories By James Riordan
Chicken Chicken By RL Stine
No Chance By David Orme
True Disaster Stories By Terry Deary
Johnny and the Dead By Terry Pratchet
I think the book ‘Johnny and the Dead’ was a very good read. It’s a tale about Johnny
Maxwell who can see the dead. He never knew quite how he could see them but he could.
When the council plan to build offices on the cemetery, the dead aren’t happy! They learn a thing or two from Johnny, an d they’re not going to lose their battle – especially since
Halloween is not far off………… This is a fun story. Terry Pratchet has a great sense of humour!
This reader also enjoyed:
Quest for A Maid By Frances Mary Hendry
‘Quest for a Maid’ is a very good book. The characters are well described and I felt as if I knew them like friends. I loved the twist at the end. The glossary is a great help in understanding the Scots words.
Nowhere to Run By Sue Welford
An exciting story of Cass, who has to make the biggest decision she’s ever made….. It could change her life forever. But once Cass starts recovering from one problem she finds another.
The Birchbark House By Louise Erdrich
And
All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Flubber By Cathy East Dubowski
In Flubber the scientist Professor Brainard invents ‘flubber’. Different things happen all the time and they are sometimes funny. One of the funniest things in the book is that Professor
Brainard kept forgetting his own wedding day because he was so caught up in his experiments.
This reader also enjoyed:
St. Jo’s Hospital – No. 6 High Hopes
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Chandra By Frances Mary Hendry
Chandra is the story of a young girl who faces terrible ordeals and has to fight for her rights.
A wonderful insight into Indian culture.
This reader also enjoyed:
The Daydreamer by Ian McEwan
The Daydreamer is a book of short stories. I really enjoyed the title story; it was on a very original topic. The Baby and The Bully were particularly interesting but my favourite was The
Cat.
And
Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques
Spellbound by Christopher Pike
I really enjoyed your book called Spellbound. I found it really fun to read because it was a scary horror adventure story. The best book I have read in a long time. I think Christopher
Pike is a very talented writer.
This reader also enjoyed:
Gloria’s Gramophone by Akalah Agbani
And
The Shadows of August by Sue Welford
Zillah and Me By Helen Dunmore
Zillah and Me is a book about a girl called Katie. She has just moved to Cornwall from
London. When she meets Zillah she is sure she doesn’t like her. Why is Zillah’s family such a deep dark secret?
The Lie By Peter Leigh
I thought the book The Lie was a very good book. I like the bit when Luke messed up all the drawings in Mr Jones’ classroom. I thought that was quite funny. I couldn’t believe that Mr
Jones hit Luke then lied to not just the head but also the police. Luke was a class pest because he never did his work and always annoyed other people. I think the book should be longer.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Holes By Louis Sacher
Holes is about a boy whose family and ancestors have always had bad luck.
Stanley Yelnats is walking home from school one day when a pair of trainers lands on him.
The trainers happened to belong to a famous baseball player called Clyde Livingston who was going to auction them to raise money for charity.
Stanley had a choice of either going to jail or to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Correctional
Facility all because of his dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-grandfather.
He meets some friends called Rex, Alan, Lewis, Jose, Theodore and Ricky whose nicknames were X-ray, Squid, Barf Bag, Magret, Armpit and Zigzag. Along with his friends,
Stanley has to dig a hole every day, five feet deep and five feet across in every direction.
As time goes on, Stanley and Zero, one of his best friends, start to fall out with the others so they run away. That’s when the big adventure starts.
My favourite part in the book is when Stanley and Zero are in the hole with the treasure chest and there are yellow spotted lizards all over them. I recommend this book to people who enjoy a flavour of excitement and adventure.
Secret Heart By David Almond
This book is an adventure story but is also full to the brim with magic. The book is about a boy named Joe Naloney who has the same dream nearly every night, about a tiger who comes for him but just before Joe reaches out to touch it, a voice calls, “Tiger, Tiger” and it’s gone.
He loves his mum but she wants him to grow up and his friend wants him to keep missing school and come with him to learn to kill. But then a circus comes to town and with it the girl
Joe sees and meets in his dreams….
This book has a mythical side to it and mixes fantasy with reality. It is very cleverly written and there is magic surrounding the story.
Overall this book is brilliant and I’d give it a fascinating 9/10.
Pig Heart Boy By Malorie Blackman
This is the moving story about a boy of thirteen who is seriously ill with a heart condition.
The boy, Cameron Kelsey, needs a heart transplant badly and there aren’t enough human donors to go round so when Cameron’s dad writes to a specialist and tells him about
Cameron’s case, the doctor comes to them, but what Cameron finds out is that the heart he will be given isn’t a human heart……
Cameron can’t believe that he is going to be used as a guinea pig but if it is going to save his life, he can’t turn it down. He is fed up with always sitting on the side of life, always watching, never doing, so he grabs at the chance. The only thing is that it has to be kept secret. Cameron doesn’t know if he can keep the secret but if he tells, anything could happen…..
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

I really enjoyed this book. It is the kind of book that snatches you from your bedroom and sends you into a whole new world. I think that Malorie Blackman is a brilliant author and I think everyone, no matter what generation, should get a chance to read these brilliant novels and get a chance to enter her marvellous world and the lives of her amazing characters.
The Boy in the Bubble By Ian Strachan
Adam is the main character in this book. He is fifteen at the beginning of the book and he turns sixteen at the end of the book. He has an illness which means he has to stay in a plastic bubble. He can have no contact with humans and everything he gets has to be sterilised.
I think this is a book about courage because he coped with his illness well even though he knew he was going to die he still got on with his life.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Fantasy/Science Fiction
The Lord of the Rings By J R Tolkein
‘The Lord of the Rings’ is set in Middle Earth, a country full of magical creatures like elves and ‘ents’ (treeherds) and populated with many different races of men and hobbits. The story is about the struggle of the good people of Middle Earth to overcome the evil power of
Sauron and his wringwraiths. Middle Earth has a troubled history. Sauron forged ‘the rings’ a nd the ‘one ring to rule them all’ for his own use. He is intent on finding the ‘one ring’ for them he will become all powerful and Middle Earth will be doomed.
Frodo is a hobbit, a small person with furry toes and, by an unfortunate chain of events, has become the ring bearer. His task is to pass into ‘Morder’ the land completely controlled by
Sauron and destroy Sauron forever.
Northern Lights (First of a Trilogy of Novels) By Philip Pullman
The story was at first in Oxford, then in London but most of it was set in the North Bolvanger and Svalbard. These are places in a different world.
The story was about Lyra who lived in this different world, everyone in this world had a demon which was their soul in the form of an animal, something always there to talk to.
When Lyra’s best friend Rodger is taken by the Gobblers (General Oblation Board) she starts her adventure to find him.
I don’t think Phillip Pullman could have made this story any better as it was a brilliant book and I can't wait to read the next two in the trilogy.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy By Douglas Adams
The story is set in space although it starts on earth where Arthur Dent’s house is about to be demolished. Then, out of the blue, the earth is demolished and the story is about Arthur’s adventure in space.
This book is interesting because it is so weird!! I don’t think the writer could have made it more interesting.
Sorcery By Terry Pratchet
I have read other books in this series so I expected it to be similar. The story was about a wizard, and eighth son of an eighth son who has an eighth son who was a sorcerer. This caused problems because sorcery is different from wizardry. It is much more powerful and disorganised.
A magical war began which turned out to be the beginning of the Apocalypse and Rincewind has to save the world (again). Rincewind is a failed wizard whose main aim is to lead as boring a life as possible, unfortunately he is constantly getting dragged into adventures.
Only his characteristic cowardice and incredible ability to stay alive stop him coming to a nasty end.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Star Group By Christopher Pike
The story is set in California, USA. It is a story about six eighteen year olds who have magical powers and one of them can communicate with a man called Mentor from the planet
Org.
The main character, Daniel, is the first to notice his powers and he tries to convince the others of their powers.
The story was interesting because from the beginning I was hooked and wanting to read on and it was an interesting subject.
I don’t think the book could have been more interesting. It was very good.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire By JK Rowling
The story is set in Hogwarts (School for Wizards). The story is about a boy called Harry who goes through three challenges in order to win the goblet of fire. He also has to fight his enemy Voldermort. I really enjoyed this book because it was exciting and you didn’t know what was going to happen next. The author is especially talented in scene setting and building up tension.

Also look out for: Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Third Degree By Nigel Robinson
The Third Degree was an enjoyable book with lots of surprises. The story was set on a man made space island called Terra Nova and on earth. The story was about a group of people, the renegades, who hate the system (all the people who live on Terra Nova) and attack the system. This results in battles and wars. The main character in the story is Kruse one of the renegades who was not only travelling to Terra Nova to fight but to find his father who had left him when he was young. Some of the renegades are psychic which means they can read minds and can make people go crazy. I found this idea very interesting.
The Lost World By Michael Crichton
The story was set on a secluded island on the coast of Costa Rica. The story was about a group of scientists who learn that there is dinosaur life on the island. I thought the most interesting part of the story was when the army goes to the island and captures a T-Rex and ships the dinosaur to New York City. The dinosaur manages to escape and runs around the city looking for its child who has been taken by the scientists because he has been injured.
The Tulip Touch By Anne Fine
No one wants to be around Tulip, except Natalie. Also Natalie finds Tulip’s strange games exciting until Natalie realises Tulip is going too far…..much too far! Brilliant and mesmerising.
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

This reader also enjoyed:
Secrets by Sue Welford
This book was very interesting. It helped me learn about anorexia and the results of it. It made me keep on reading to see what happened. It is one of the best books I have ever read.
Teachers’ Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick (Point Horror)
I love Point Horror and this one is very scary. I really liked the ending.
Watership Down By Richard Adams
I found this book brilliant. It made me get right into it and the story was great. It made me feel as the rabbits would feel and it had humour. Even though it was a long book, when I finished it I wanted to read it again.
The reader also enjoyed:
Flambards by K M Peyton
The story described brilliantly the experiences, feelings and lifestyle around the area of the great Flambards which was starting to deteriorate rapidly for lack of money. I found it a brilliant book.
Carrie’s War By Nina Bawden
This is a wonderfully written book that is incredibly hard to put down.
Set in the Second World War, it is the story of an evacuee with a difference. Nick and
Carrie, brother and sister, were evacuated to Wales to live with Mr Evans and his timid, mouse like sister, Lou. Mr Evans is a bit of a n ogre, but apart from that, life couldn’t have been better. They made friends with Albert the ‘bookaholic’, mystical Hepzipah and the strange Mister Johnny, who can only speak gobbledegook. They enjoy their new lives in the
Welsh countryside, except for the odd mishap. Carrie and Nick liked visiting them, until
Carrie did something…..something which was the worst thing she had done in her life.
This book tells vividly about life during the war. It is warm, funny, adventurous and sad all in one. An amazing read that enthralls you to the end. If you love books that tell of historic lives then this is one for you.
Black Beauty By Anna Sewell
This is a beautiful tale of a horse and what happens to it in its life. It has many twists and turns but all comes together and takes you back into the streets of London in the Victoria era and introduces you to some amazing characters with stories to tell. Be warned – hold out the hankies! Throughout his life Black Beauty is sold to many different people and the story is about all the different things that happen to him in each of his homes.
I would give this book 10/10 for it’s written in the most brilliant way and I would recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Stirling Council Children’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Some time ago Mouse and Ezzie had made a list of all the ways they knew to stay alive.
Ezzie had claimed that he could stay alive in the jungle forever. They knew how to deal with
Unfriendly Lions, Charging Bulls, Crocodiles…everything.
But this!
How will the Mouse cope with this latest emergency…the eighteenth emergency?
Marv Hammerman is out to get him!
Read on…………………………….
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Discuss with the teacher what is meant by the plot of the novel.
Now fill in the blanks in the following paragraph to complete the PLOT of the story.
“The Eighteenth Emergency” by Betsy Byars is about a young___________ called Benjie who is worried about fighting with__________ ______________. He tells his _________ about his problem but she does not seem to be too concerned. Benjie, who is called ______ by his friends, spends a great deal of ________ trying to avoid _________. He confides in his best _________ Ezzie, who fully understands what a difficult _________ this is for
Benjie. After a few close __________, Benjie becomes quite ill and is sent home from
________. The following morning Benjie sets out to fight __________. Since Benjie is not an experienced _________, he comes off much worse and is unable to deliver a single blow to his ___________. After the __________ an elderly __________ helps Benjie to clean himself up. On his way home, he meets Ezzie who is very impressed and treats Benjie like a returning _________.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Group Discussion
When we read about a character, it is interesting to decide what type of person he or she is.
Choose three words from the box below which best describe the type of person Mouse is.
Courageous loving friendly helpful insecure boastful lonely conceited tragic introverted confident angry
Remember to back up your opinion by either cheerful pessimistic loyal imaginative funny considerate quoting from the book or referring to some event in the book .
Now, on your own, write a paragraph outlining the type of person Mouse is. Remember to back up your opinion.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Group Discussion
Look carefully here at the following references to Ezzie.
For each quotation, say what we learn about the type of person Ezzie is .
“Once he and his friend Ezzie had made a list of all the ways they knew to stay alive. Ezzie had claimed he could stay alive in the jungle forever. Ezzie said every jungle emergency had a simple solu tion”. (P9)
“My dad will kill me, Mouse, you know that.” Ezzie was not as afraid of his father as he pretended, but he was afraid of Mr Casino. He had once come upon Mr Casino unexpectedly on the landing outside Mouse’s apartment. In that dark spot, Mr Casino had seemed with his huge body and sunken eyes a terrifying figure”. (P32)
Sometimes Ezzie lied like this out of sympathy. If you said, “My stomach hurts and I think
I’m going to die”, and if Ezzie really liked you, he would say, “I know a boy whose stomach hurt worse than that and he didn’t die!” ( P25)
“He started walking, and Ezzie left the others and followed him. He said, “Listen, I want to hear some more about this fight. What was it really like? I mean, did he say anything, or what? You haven’t told me anything”. (P100)
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Betsy Byars’ books are made particularly enjoyable because of her use of descriptive language. She makes everything so real for us.
One way of making language descriptive is to use similes and metaphors and she does this a lot in Chapter Six.
A simile is when you compare one thing to another using the word ‘like’ or ‘as’. e.g. “It was as sudden as a feat of magic”.
A metaphor is when a comparison is made by saying or implying that one thing is another. e.g. “He was a mouse”.
Your task in this assignment is to reread this chapter, taking note of any similes or metaphors you come across.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Do you think these similes and metaphors are effective?
Try to explain your answer.
Which is your favourite simile?
Try to explain your answer.
Which is your favourite metaphor?
Try to explain your answer.
IN PAIRS…
Try to find another simile or metaphor elsewhere in the novel.
Write them in to your jotter.
Explain why they are effective.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

You are now going to complete a book review on “The Eighteenth Emergency”
In your review you should explain in some detail, what you think about the book.
You must give reasons to support your points of view.
In your answer, you should refer to at least two of the following: plot, character, style of writing. (You may include all three!)
Remember to write carefully in sentences and to organise your ideas in paragraphs.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

You may use the following plan as a guide (or you may prefer to make a plan of your own)
Paragraph 1 “The Eighteenth Emergency” by Betsy Byars is about……..
Paragraph 2 I particularly enjoyed reading about Mouse. He was a character I could really identify with because…………
Paragraph 3 Betsy Byars wrote particularly descriptively. A favourite description of mine was………
Paragraph 4 Overall, I thought that “The Eighteenth Emergency” was an excellent book because …….
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

A character sketch is a detailed piece of writing about a particular character.
Look back over the work you did on Mouse and Ezzie on P4-5.
Choose a character from the novel whom you would like to study in depth.
Think of four or five words which you think best describe your chosen character. (Look again at the box of words on P4 - you may choose from these words or think of some which are more appropriate).
Now make a list of your character’s main characteristics.
For each characteristic find three incidents in the novel which support your opinion about the character.
Make notes about each of these incidents and include a quotation about each one.
You should now complete your character sketch by organising all your information into a single piece of writing.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

You may use the following plan as a guide:
My favourite character in “The Eighteenth Emergency” by Betsy Byars was Benjamin
Fawley, who was known as Mouse. I felt I could really identify with Mouse because…….
Another reason I really enjoyed reading about Mouse was because of the strange things he did. He was really quite a funny character. A particularly strange habit he had was……..
Mouse was also a very kind boy…
When he was trying to avoid Hammerman, his sensitive nature was evident….
Finally, tho ugh, Benjie was really quite courageous…..
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Benjie……
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

Reread Chapter Eight
On P95, Mouse is full of regret and just wants to go back in time and change everything.
On Pp97 – 98 we can see that Mouse is very frightened. He even talks of the threat by
Hammerman as being an “impossible burden”.
Now….
Choose a time when you either regretted something very much and wanted to turn the clock back or when you were terribly afraid of something you thought might happen to you.
Write about your experience in as vivid a way as possible concentrating on how you felt at the time.
You could make your writing vivid by including similes and metaphors.
Remember to write clearly in sentences and to organise your ideas clearly in paragraphs.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

In Chapter 3, we learn about Mr Casino, Mouse’s neighbour. Mr Casino is a stroke victim and Mouse thinks back to a time when he was a healthy and powerful man.
Do you know someone who is or has been very ill and whose illness has changed their life in some way?
Write about a person you know well, a friend or relative, who has been or is very unwell.
Write about your experience of being with this person before, during and following their illness. Try to explain what your thoughts and feelings were and how you were affected by the experience.
Write about your experience in as vivid a way as possible concentrating on your own feelings. You could make your writing vivid by including similes and metaphors.
Remember to write clearly in sentences and to organise your ideas clearly in paragraphs.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies

4.
5.
3.
2.
Write a review of the unit on “The Eighteenth Emergency” by answering the following questions:
1. Write down the title of the unit and say how long you have been working on it.
Explain in detail what you did in the unit
Say which assignment you liked best and why
Say which assignment you liked least and why
Would you add anything to the unit?
What?
Give your overall opinion of the unit and say why. 6.
Stirling Council Children
’s Services Literacy P6-S2
Section 1: Novel Studies